The 8,000-sq. ft. facility is designed to now be the centerpiece of the 17-Mile Drive scenic tour of the iconic resort property. Located adjacent to The Lodge at Pebble Beach, interactive exhibits in the Visitor Center include displays documenting the championship golf pedigree of the property, which will host the 2019 U.S. Open to mark its 100th year.
The Pebble Beach Company opened its new Visitor Center in Pebble Beach, Calif. on November 13, commemorating the kick-off of the company’s centennial celebration in 2019 and providing guests with an opportunity to learn about the 100-year legacy of Pebble Beach Resorts.
“The Visitor Center is something we are very excited about, because it provides us with an opportunity to share our history with our resort guests, golfers, two million annual visitors, and the local community,” said Bill Perocchi, Pebble Beach Company’s CEO. “Since its founding in 1919, Pebble Beach Company has maintained a set of core values that include continuous improvement, being good neighbors and acting as stewards of this magnificent place.”
Located adjacent to The Lodge at Pebble Beach, the 8,000-sq. ft. Visitor Center features an exhibit area that celebrates a century of Pebble Beach history through interactive displays. In addition to tracing the Pebble Beach Company’s ownership, from founder Samuel F. B. Morse to the current ownership group that has been in place since 1999, other displays document the championship golf pedigree of Pebble Beach, the collection of golf courses in the Del Monte Forest, special events like the upcoming U.S. Open Championship in 2019, and the company’s commitment to the environment and community.
Exhibits are highlighted by archival video, replica trophies, and photography. Employees who are knowledgeable about Pebble Beach’s history are on site and available to answer questions and enhance the visitor’s experience, and the Visitor Center also includes a retail area with Pebble Beach souvenirs, apparel, and grab-and-go food-and-beverage items. An outdoor picnic area offers views of Stillwater Cove.
The new Visitor Center is designed to be the centerpiece of the 17-Mile Drive scenic tour, as stop No. 14 out of 17 points of interest. The original 17-Mile Drive opened in 1881, before the automobile had become a way of life and horse-drawn carriages explored the area starting from and ending at the famous Hotel Del Monte, now the site of the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey. Another well-known stop on 17-Mile Drive includes The Lone Cypress, which is more than 250 years old and one of the most photographed trees in North America, along with also serving as the logo of the Pebble Beach Company.
The new Visitor Center is the latest unveiling in a series of completed enhancements at Pebble Beach Resorts, as the property prepares to host the 119th U.S. Open Championship on June 10-16, 2019 during the Pebble Beach Centennial Celebration. Other improvements include a complete upgrade to all 454 guest rooms at The Lodge at Pebble Beach, The Inn at Spanish Bay and Casa Palmero; the opening of Fairway One at The Lodge, comprised of 30 guest rooms, two four-bedroom golf cottages, and a meeting facility; and subtle restorations to the Pebble Beach Golf Links.
With the Pebble Beach Centennial now officially launched, the company will be announcing other plans for upcoming events and festivities to commemorate its milestone birthday.